TENNIS

By: Jon & Kendayl

TENNIS

By: Jon & Kendayl

Rules & Gameplay

The goal of this game is to hit the ball over the net, landing the ball within the margins of the court and in a way that causes your opponent to be incapable of returning the ball.

Scoring

In order to win a game, the player must be able to score four points. The points are known as 15 (1 point), 30 (two points), 40 (three points) and the fourth would result in a win at the end of that game. If the scores went 40-40 this would be called deuce. When a game reaches deuce the player must then win by two points.

Dimensions

The court is 78 feet in length and 27 feet in width for singles matches, and 36 feet in width for doubles matches. The service line is 21 feet from the net. The clear space around the court is needed in order for players to retrieve runaway balls. The net is about 3 feet tall when setup for playing.

Difference between Double & Single matches

One of the main differences between doubles and singles matches, are that on doubles, there are a total of 4 players on the court. While in singles, there are only two players on the court. A doubles match is mainly about hitting at angles, singles matches are about hitting with more depth.

History

The origins of the game can be dated back to the 12th–13th-century French handball game called jeu de paume (“game of the palm”), which was created as a complex indoor racket-and-ball game. It was patented by Walter Clopton Wingfield in 1837. It was first introduced in the U.S. by Mary Ewing Outerbridge. First played at the Cricket and Baseball Club in Staten Island, 1874.

Serving

A player must serve from the corner standing behind the center and the base line of the court. It should also be from the right side and land diagonally on the other side of the net. In case of a doubles game, the serve alternately changes between players after every scored point.

Equipment

The usual size of a tennis racket should not be more than 29 inches in length and 12.5 inches in width. Also, the hitting area of the racket cannot be more than 15.5 inches long and 11.5 inches wide.

Tennis balls could actually be made in different colors other than green. But for official tournaments, the ball must be either, green, or white. Up to six balls may be used in a match.

Terms

Ace- Legal serve not touched by the receiver winning the point

Alley-The area of the court bounded by the singles and doubles sidelines, used in doubles games.

Deuce- A score of 40 all

Double Fault- When a server faults twice in a row, and a point is lost

Ground Stroke-is a forehand or backhand shot that is hit after the ball bounces on the court once

Volley- A shot in which the ball is struck before it bounces on the ground